Demonbane

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

There was nothing but perpetual darkness greeting the young replica when he came to. He lay there for a good few minutes, subconsciously wiping away the water on his face before he sat up. Luke was puzzled, no—that was an understatement. There was no word to describe how he was feeling right now. He swallowed back the shame he was feeling.

Ghastly figures glowed faintly as they circled around him, groaning and weeping, all of them blaming the poor boy on his reckless actions. They reached out to him, their bloodied hands grabbing at his coat. Luke widened his eyes in fear, moving frantically to get the limbs off him. They hissed out insults to him, and called out for his life.

"Murderer…." A little girl said, she had skeleton eyes like the rest of them but he could feel their hateful stares. They all joined in unison, their voices dragging and deadpan. In amidst of the crowd, he could see his comrades with seething eyes and scowls directed on him. Then, he appeared on the half destroyed Tarutarus, all his friends—no should he be calling them that? They were nothing more than acquaintances. They also cornered him, their words stung worse than the souls of the dead.

"Ever since you lost your memory, you're like a completely different person…" Natalia chastised. Luke tried to clear his name and was a grateful that Ion tried to comfort him, but Anise intruded,

"Don't even talk to him, he's nothing but worthless!" The guardian sneered. The replica watched the two children follow after the princess and he turned to Guy, who was more ashamed of him than the first three.

Tear was the last to leave, her words hurt the most.

" I was stupid for starting to think you had some good in you." She told him coldly before turning and walking away, fading with the rest of them.

And when Asch revealed he was nothing but a replica of the god-general, he felt his world was crushed…

So, that's how everyone thought of him, nothing more of a fraud and a pest. And Master Van—Luke squeezed his eyes shut, curling his arms around his knees. Then, he solemnly rested his chin on his knees, frowning at the memory replaying over and over in his head. The way Master Van looked at Luke, the way everyone looked at him when he single-handily destroyed Akzeriuth, it was too much. And then, after Luke came out of comatose, he cut his hair for Tear, but he knew she doubted him. He was a spoiled brat, after all.

Plunk.

Plunk.

Plunk.

A feeling of guilt weighed down his shoulders; he… killed thousands with just his hands. It wasn't an army, or a weapon he used, but his own hands. His heart sank when he dawned at a realization of not being able to save the innocents of the mining city. Luke couldn't save even anyone, let alone himself. Hell if it weren't for Tear, he'd be dead right now.

The red head cogitated darkly; the words in his mind were like sick laughter.

He is a weapon after all, he is a replica.

Luke shook the thoughts out his head; no he shouldn't be brooding over such things. After all, he made a promise to Tear and these negative thoughts would do nothing but stunt his goal. Maybe he couldn't save anyone back then but it would now definitely change. They had to.

Then a slithery voice snaked its way up into Luke's ear, breaking his chain of thoughts.

" Goooddd… You're… finally realizing what… you are," The replica shuddered, goose bumps tickling his skin as the voice continued. " You… are a monssster."

" W-who… What are you?" Luke called out, looking around only to find darkness. The redhead chewed his lip nervously.

" Lisssten to me, boy," The voice hissed to Luke making him shudder both mentally and physically.

Plunk.

Plunk.

Plunk.

"You… are mine…," The voice seemed to grow nearer.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

" Yesss… thingsss… sssuch as yourself have little soul… little strength…" There seemed to be a snicker, Luke cringed at the usage of the word 'thing'. There was silence in the air before chanting filled his ears, it echoed inside his head with its droning mumbles.

Suddenly, Luke felt very dizzy.

Ba-dum!

Ba-dum!

Ba-dum!

Luke broke into a cold sweat, and his breathing became rapid. Even the singing was louder than the rhythm of his heart.

"There isss no… need… resssissst. You are… mine. Not even… Lorelei will… sssave you," The droning words grew louder, and so did his headache. It progressively got worse; Luke begged the singing to cease, clutching his skull.

"S-Stop!" They seemed to be laughing at him, he couldn't bare the pain his head and doubled over, curling into a ball.

"Stop, please stop," His were words nothing but a whisper as their laughter only continued. Luke was on the brink of tears, the voices were attacking his ears. Their words like swords. Why couldn't it just stop? Was this punishment?

Luke closed his eyes, not able to bear it any longer. The sound fading away as his conscience slipped from his grasp.

Then, there was nothing but silence.


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Disclaimer: I dont own tota.